Ocean City Girls Basketball Team Falls In State Semifinals

OCEAN CITY, NJ — The Ocean City High School girls basketball team’s run to a state title came to an end in the semifinals, as the South Jersey champion fell to Ewing at Deptford High School.

Ewing defeated Ocean City, 62-37, in the NJSIAA State Group 3 playoff semifinals on March 9, according to nj.com. Mya Grimes lead the way for Ewing with a double-double (11 points, 17 rebounds) a year after missing a free throw in overtime that sent Ocean City on the 2017 state finals.

Danielle Donoghue had eight points and seven rebounds for Ocean City, which was 22-9 and won its third straight South Jersey title this season.Savannah Holt had eight points and two rebounds, and Emma Finnegan had seven points for the Red Raiders.

Ocean City won its third straight sectional championship with a 36-32 win over Mainland earlier in the week. Finnegan lead the way in that one with nine points, seven rebounds and one steal, but points were evenly distributed throughout the lineup.

Donoghue, Delaney Lappin and Tori Rolls each had seven points in the win. Donoghue had three assists and one block; Lappin had three assists and two steals; and Rolls had two assists and three steals. Kylee Watson lead Mainland with 14 points, two steals and two blocked shots.

Ocean City beat Mainland by virtually the same score it beat second-seeded Winslow by in the semifinals. Ocean City defeated Winslow, 35-32, to advance to the final. Finnegan and Donoghue each had nine points in that win.

The Red Raiders won each of their first two games handily. In the first round, Ocean City defeated No. 14 Toms River South, 55-31, behind an 18-point effort by Donoghue. In the quarterfinals, Ocean City downed No. 11 Gloucester Tech, 57-22. Holt and Donoghue each had 17 points to lead the way in that win.

Ewing was set to play Old Tappan for the state title on Sunday.

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